Support device for an outlet box



April 19, 1960 J. A. ANTONUCCI SUPPORT DEVICE FOR AN OUTLET BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1957 FIG. 2

INVENI OR. JAMES A. ANTONUCCI BY MW ATTORNEY FIG.4

April 1960 J. A. ANTONUCCI 2,933,549

SUPPORT DEVICE FOR AN OUTLET BOX Filed llay 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES A. ANTONUCC/ ATTORNEY United States Pat O SUPPORT DEVICE FOR AN OUTLET BOX James A. Antonucci, Youngstown, Ohio Application May 28, 1957, Serial No. 662,143

1 Claim. (Cl. 174-63) .This invention relates to an outlet box as used in electrical wiring and more particularly to a support device for mounting said box in ceiling areas and the like between supporting joists.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a mounting device for. an outlet box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a longitudinally extensible mounting device for an outlet box.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mounting device for an outlet box incorporating a stud and key positioned transversely of said stud and movable with respect thereto for engaging and retaining an outlet box.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mounting device for an outlet box incorporating a stud slidable on said mounting device and means for securing an outlet box to said stud with a portion of said stud within the box.

The support device for an outlet box disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the art in that a longitudinally extensible device which is capable of spanning various distances between rafters, joists, studding and the like is disclosed to which said outlet box may be quickly and easily attached and in which structure the longitudinally extensible portion of the device comprises an oppositely disposed pair of identically formed members, each of which slidably engages the other at one of its ends.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figuire l is a perspective view of the support device for an outlet box.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the outlet box engaged on the support device.

Figure 3 is a vertical section similar to Figure 2 showing the outlet box secured to the support device.

Figure 4 is a key showing in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a stud shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a support device for an outlet box showing an extension member incorporated therein.

By referring to the drawings and Figure 1 1n particular, it will be seen that a pair of identically formed oppositely disposed straps 10 are shown in interengaged relation to one another. Each of the straps 10 has oppositely disposed inturned arms 11 on one of its ends and oppositely disposed outturned barbed secondary arms 12 on its opposite end. The straps 10 are interengaged in longitudinally slidable relation and positioned between a pair of supporting members such as joists and secured thereto as by nailing the same through openings 13 in the outturned barbed arms 12. The straps 10 thus provide a longitudinal extensible support device midway between the ends of which there is positioned ,a stud 14 which has a transverse passageway 15 therethrough which is engaged upon the straps 10. The stud 14 is notched at each endof said passageway. I

The transverse passageway 15 is of greater height than the height of the straps 10 and is widened at a bottom section 16 so that a flat key 17 having enlarged end portions 18 may be positioned therethrough movably thereof. The notches in the sides of the stud 14 permit the key 17 to move longitudinally with respect thereto. A depending portion of the stud 14 below the widened passageway 16 is externally threaded as at 19 and internally threaded as at 20 to receive a bolt 21, the inner end of-which engages the intermediate portion of the key 17, as best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings. The stud 14 forms a downwardly projecting means on which an electrical fixture may be suspended as is known in the art.

Still referring to Figure 1 of the drawings an outlet box 22 will be seen to be disposed adjacent the lower end of the bolt 21 with an opening 23 therein through which the threaded portion 19 of the stud may be positioned.

By referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be seen that by moving the key 17 to one side, one end 18 thereof will enter the area of the outlet box 22 in which position it may then be moved from left to right, as shown by the arrow in Figure 2 of the drawings, until the opposite end 18 has entered the opening 23 in the box 22.

By referring now to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the key 17 is then moved back to center position with respect to the bolt 21 whereby the ends 18 both underlie the adjacent portions of the box 22. In such position the bolt 21 may be turned inwardly of the threaded opening 20 in the stud 14 so that it moves the key 17 upwardly into tight engagement against the box 22 and the box 22 into tight engagement against the straps 10 of the support device.

In Figure 5 of the drawings a cross sectional elevation of the stud 14 may be seen and it will be seen that the respective parts of the outlet box 22, the key 17 and the straps 10 are in tight fitting relation and that the straps 10 are held in side-by-side relation by the transverse opening 15 in the stud 14.

It will be seen that the support device for an outlet box may be rapidly positioned by nailing the same between a pair of joists, studs, rafters or the like and that the outlet box may thereafter be easily and quickly attached thereto and secured in such position by simple rotation of the bolt 21.

In Figure 6 of the drawings a modification of the structure just disclosed is illustrated and which modification includes the simple addition of an intermediate strap portion 25 between the straps 10, heretofore disclosed, so that in place of the straps 10 engaging one another with their inturned arms 11-11, as heretofore described in connection with Figure 1 of the drawings, the inturned ends engage the intermediate strap 25 which thereby adds to the total extensible length of the straps 10 and makes it possible for the support device to span a greater than ordinary distance and yet incorporate the several advantages of the support structure as hereinbefore set forth.

It will thus be seen that an improved support device for an outlet box has beendisclosed which may be simply and economically formed, easily installed and to which the outlet box may be quickly attached.

Those skilled in the art will observe that a pair of the straps '10 of identical formation ordinarily provide adequate structure, asset forth in Figure 11 of the drawings, and that this structure may be modified through the addition of the intermediate strap portion 25, if desired. The stud 14 comprises a simple casting which is easily machined. The straps 10 and the key 17 are stampings of suitable metal, such as steel, which is ordinarily galvanized.

4 assas in It will thus be seen thatthe several objects of the invention have been met by the support device for an outlet box disclosed herein. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: In combinationwith an outlet box having a central opening therein and means for securing said outlet box to a strap positioned transversely above said box and on a plane perpendicular thereto, said means comprising a studextending through said central opening in said box and having a slot transversely thereof on a plane axially thereof adapted to be engaged on said strap, the section of said stud below said transverse slot being threaded externally and the central section of the said stud having a threaded opening extending from the bottom of said stud into said slot, a bolt engaged in said threaded opening, a key positioned in said slot and disposed on a plane at right angles to the plane of said slot, enlarged ends formed on said key, said key being movable transversely of said stud in said slot whereby said key may be positioned Within said outlet box and the outlet box and said key moved vertically relative to said stud and said strap by said bolt so as to clamp said outlet box to said strap. I 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

